Male student exams

Flare, ASN, BSN · Feb 25, 2015

i've had young muslim students that never had issue with being alone with me in the office. as far as the issue of assessing genitals - totally agree - not looking unless we're talking ems level injury and even then i want a male staff member present and a call to the parent. i've had plenty of young men who have taken hits to their nether regions - they get sent to the office bathroom to ensure everything looks and feels normal then they get their very own disposable ice pack

AdobeRN · Feb 25, 2015

Not looking unless an emergency. If I have a student - boy or girl - complaining of anything down there I have them go in bathroom and check self then I call parents.

I have had 2 occasions where girls fell onto playground equipment - landed straddled across a metal bar. Both of them ended up having lacerations in lady partsl area where they needed to have medical care. One of the girls was bleeding alot so I went ahead and looked to see what we were dealing with while the teacher called parents - the other girl just a had spot of blood, I called mom and mom came up to school to examine with me.

kidzcare · Feb 25, 2015

I've never had an instance where I've had to examine a student's genitals. I've had students complain of pain or get a blow to the groin in PE, but I have asked them if there is bleeding or open skin. Then I call the parents and let them know that I did not visualize the area and tell them what the student reported to me.

The question about the Muslim student confuses me. I don't know anything about my student's religious practices and I don't see a reason to ask.

I always take the student's comfort level in to account while performing my exam. For example, I work with a very "inbetween" age group. 10-13 year olds. Some still have a very child like openness with me (ie: running in my office saying "I gotta POOP!") while others are entering the shyness of puberty (ie: will not under any circumstances hint to me that they ever poop, pass gas, or have a functional digestive tract). So I've had students with injuries to their back or abdomen and I've asked them to lift their shirt so I can look and some rip their shirt off before I can close a curtain around us while others timidly lift the shirt while looking very uncomfortable.

Like in all nursing, you have to be able to read your patient to be sure you are respecting their boundaries while still doing your job effectively.

It is possible that the student's religious background will be the reason they might be uncomfortable revealing their torso to me, but I will always explain the reason I need to see and work with them to respect their privacy.

jamiejay · Feb 25, 2015

Thank you so much for the great responses! You have helped so much. I just started my first school nurse position 3 weeks ago so appreciate all of the help!